Darwish Wins Oregon Title In Portland

Egyptian Karim Darwish upset top-seeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou in the final of the Oregon Open to win his first title of the year at the $50,000 5-star PSA Tour squash event at Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, USA.

Darwish came into the match as underdog - not only as second seed, but also chasing a 7-2 head-to-head lead by his opponent.  But the 26-year-old from Cairo quickly won the first game, then, inexplicably, the second in a whitewash - in what was Lincou's first ever 'scoreless' game!

Many in the overflow crowd imagined the end was near for Lincou:  They were wrong.  The fourth game was intense - with six lead changes.  The Frenchman's shots were much sharper and he was able to move Darwish around the court.

"The tiebreaker had some phenomenal points with fantastic shots off the backwall on shots after drives that would be winners against mere mortals," said event spokesman James Daigle.

Lincou won the game 15-13 - and, in the fourth game, led 9-8 after several lead changes, suggesting that the match was heading for a decider.

However, this time Darwish did not relent and the second seed reclaimed the advantage to win 11-4, 11-0, 10-11 (3-5), 11-9 after 68 minutes.

The triumph marks the 13th PSA Tour title of Darwish's career - and his first since marrying fellow Egyptian international Engy Kheirallah in December.

RESULTS:        Oregon Open Squash Championship, Portland, Oregon, USA

Final:
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [1] Thierry Lincou (FRA)          11-4, 11-0, 10-11 (3-5), 11-9 (68m)

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